Summer’s a Break From College, Not Problems

Every year as college students head for home, many families face a difficult transition. Abrupt changes in a family’s routines can lead to conflicts as parents try to adjust to their child’s desire for independence and students cope with feelings of resentment over parental intrusions. Also, college is a period during which mental illness often surfaces, health experts say, and these disorders can be exacerbated by the academic and social pressures of collegiate life.

Most college students are undergoing major developmental changes as they experiment with different lifestyles and forge a sense of identity. These changes may come as a shock to parents, especially if their child has been away all or most of the year and is grappling with serious issues that are still unknown to their families.

Many serious psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis, first emerge in the late teens or early 20s. And students’ erratic sleep patterns, along with heavy alcohol or drug use, may instigate depressive episodes. A survey last year by University of Pittsburgh researchers suggested there was an increase in the number of college students with severe mental disorders; 85% of counseling center directors said they were seeing students with more serious psychological problems.

Health professionals recommend a number of steps students and parents can take to ease the transition. While most students don’t suffer from severe psychological problems, many are struggling with significant personal issues, from sexual identity to loneliness and alienation. And a smaller number may have experienced more traumatic events, such as the end of a serious relationship or a date rape.

Students should try not to “keep these feelings locked inside,” says Dennis Heitzmann, director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa. “Talking about these issues will help them cope better, and strengthen family ties.”

Confiding in parents can be tough, though. Ideally, parents are their child’s staunchest allies, but students may feel uncomfortable telling them “bad” news--about a diagnosed eating disorder, for example, or treatment for depression.

One way students can avert emotional confrontations is to have a candid talk with parents over the phone or by e-mail before they leave school. Hopefully, the dust will have settled by the time they arrive at home. “People may not react well initially,” Heitzmann says, “but upon more careful reflection their rational powers kick in and then you can have a more civil conversation.”

Some issues may be too sensitive to be easily resolved, especially if students’ desires clash with parental expectations. Telling parents whose hearts are set on their child becoming a doctor that the child flunked biology and wants to major in English can often provoke an argument. “Some parents’ identity is inextricably connected with their kid’s achievement and their scrutiny is unrelenting,” says Helen E. Johnson, founder of the Parents’ Program at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

If an issue provokes a family crisis, it may be helpful to seek out a mediator--someone at your church or synagogue, for example, or a local mental health clinic. College counseling centers may provide local referrals. Check your school’s Web site too. Many universities offer online pamphlets on various topics, from eating disorders to sexuality. Even keeping a journal or enlisting the aid of a trusted older adult can help you sort out your feelings. There are also Internet support groups and chat rooms, and telephone counseling hotlines.

For some students, coming home means returning to family problems they had sought to escape by going away to college--an alcoholic or abusive parent, for example. “Protect yourself by spending as little time there as possible,” says Harold L. Pruett, director of student psychological services at UCLA. Do something: get a summer job, take classes, sign up for an internship program, or volunteer to be a tutor or work at the local playground. Engaging in activities can alleviate stress, and help students to make contact with new people who can be a source of emotional support.

A growing number of students are seeking help from their college counseling centers for more serious psychological problems, such as severe depression, eating disorders, self mutilation and even psychosis. Normally, their therapists will refer them to qualified professionals in their area to ensure continued treatment.

Yet some students don’t follow up with counseling or medication and their conditions may worsen during the summer. “Continuity of care is crucial,” says Robert Gallagher, a psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh. “Don’t expect to just coast through the summer hoping things will get better next year.”